Every year I vow to make blogging more of a journal to look back on and keepsake for our family as we watch our kiddos grow up. Every year, I struggled to follow through. Here goes at least one way I can try. To post a year in review and try again.. New year, new chances! :-)
January: We rung in the new year at home, with kids tucked into bed and sparkling cider in fancy glasses. During a snowstorm, we went to the local toyota dealer and traded in our Mazda minivan for a new to us Honda Odyssey complete with heat and a/c in the back! Also, heated seats for mama!
February: Ethan turned 7 and we celebrated at Monkey Bizness by inviting all the boys from his first grade class and a couple lil sisters for Avery to play with. It was a LEGO themed party! My mom and step-dad also made the trek down to visit for a week over a short break due to conferences. We went to Legoland downtown and they stayed at a hotel down the road. We took the kids swimming there. They had a great visit with their grandparents. Avery and Nathan went to their first father/daughter dance at Indian Creek church. She had a blast! She also received her first rose from Prince Daddy for Valentine's Day!
March: Ethan joined Spring Soccer through the YMCA. He really enjoyed it! He was on a team of K and 1st graders so, he was towering over most the kids, but it was perfect entry level for him to start on. He also had his first sleepover at our old neighbors/ friends house. They moved to Louisburg and we still miss their presence on the cul-de-sac. We visited the zoo with friends
April: We added a new fur baby to our family by way of rescue. I had been asking Nathan for a tiny dog to snuggle and love on to cure my baby fever! We found our Greta on a petfinder site that our friend was actually hosting dogs from. She is no longer the tiny pup we thought she would be. But, we love her immensely! Avery joined Spring Gymnastics at McCracken's in Olathe. She loved it! Nate's folks came for a visit and enjoyed a warm weekend. We took a trip to Deanna Rose Farm. Dyed easter eggs and I painted my bedroom!:-) Our weekends were taken over by early morning soccer games for Ethan.
May: Ethan won a star student writer award at school for his story about Nahte the alien. We completed the color foam run 5K as a family and our friends joined us, The Edwinson's. Ethan had field day at school and Avery graduated from Pre-K at Lil Treasures to start Kinder in the fall at Mahaffie! We braved the first swim of the year at our gym's outdoor pool. Brrrrr. I took a long weekend trip up to MN to see my baby brother graduate high school before he joined the Marines. I rented a cabin with my sisters and got to see my aunts and boy cousins. It was a great trip. Wish it was longer. Maybe this summer?
June: The kids made their rounds at the local VBS's. Beautiful Savior (Where Ethan went for a year) and St.Marks methodist church (for our second year) They enjoyed both. We spent lots of time at the pool and bummin' around town enjoying summer break!
July: We spent the 4th at our old neighbors/ friend's land out in Louisburg, where fireworks are legal! :-) The previous year was spent viewing fireworks from a hospital room (Pancreatitis/ Gallbladder).. although cool to be eye level, glad we were out and about. More pool time and lounging around had by kids and mom.
August: Avery turned 5! we celebrated at the local pool with lots of friends, new and old. It was a frozen theme and was super fun. The kids went to Nathan's folks for a week after her birthday party. Then a few days later, the kiddos started school! Ethan in 2nd and Avery as a 1/2 day Kinder student!
Was also the first year that I didn't join MOPS for the fall.. after 6 years and with a Kinder student I figured it was time.
September: Ethan joined Fall Soccer through Rush, a community soccer club. He was on the Second grade team with some classmates. He really enjoys playing soccer! His favorite position is goalie or defense. Avery decided to take a break from activities and looked forward to joining the Girl Scouts. We took a tour of the shatto milk factory in MO on a weekend that there was no soccer. I had to schedule it in July. So, it worked out well actually.
October: I celebrated my 34th year with the fam. Nathan got me an ice cream cake and a vivofit. We had a date night and ate at Grinder's in Lenexa.. YUM! My cousin Craig, took our family photos at the "Lorax" park aka. Black hoof park. For Halloween Ethan was Luigi and Avery was Tinkerbell. We walked the neighborhood with Avery's friend Julianna and her family. It was a chilly night! Nathan also went to a concert with his buddy Jordan.
November: We traveled to Omaha for Thanksgiving with Nathan's Dad's side. Then drove and stayed in Red Oak for a couple nights at his folks. I signed up to lead a new daisy troop for our kindergarteners and we got our first girl scout meeting up and running!
December: Nathan turned 32. We ate Planet Sub, I made him a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake bar. Had a date night out at Bolings and did a little Christmas shopping for the kids. Christmas was very low-key this year. We all got sick over the course of three weeks so, we stayed home most of break to quarantine our germs. Nathan's folks came down to visit the weekend after Christmas.
This was the first year the kiddos wanted to stay up until midnight. Avery made it to 10:20 and Ethan until 11:00 (after the ball drop)
Looking forward to better health and what the new year holds for our family! Happy New Year!!
